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My Whole30 + Hypothyroidism

Hi guys! I apologize for disappearing the last few weeks, sometimes life happens and a break is necessary, but I’m glad to be back! The weather has been so wonky lately and I know alot of you guys are buried in snow! eek! Fortunately that is not the case here but we have been getting lots of rain….but I can’t complain too much because it looks like all next week we are supposed to have temps in the 70’s and 80’s. Looks like Spring may be coming early for us! 🙂

Whole30

If you follow me on Instagram then you already know that I have started on a Whole30 journey. I know most of you have probably heard of Whole30, but in case you haven’t here is the short of it.

Here are the Whole30 rules.

  • Eat Real Food! Eat meat, seafood, eggs, lots of veggies, some fruit and plenty of good fats from fruits, oils, nuts, and seeds.
  • Do not eat sugar of any kind real or artificial.
  • Do not consume alcohol, in any form, not even in cooking.
  • Do not eat grains.
  • Do not eat legumes.
  • Do not eat dairy.
  • Do not consume MSG, carrageenan, or sulfites.
  • Do not try to recreate baked goods, junk foods, or treats with “approved” ingredients.

I realize that this sounds like a lot “do nots” but I promise you there is a lot that you CAN eat! I consider myself a fairly healthy eater but I still put alot crap in my body and when you do that you will never feel your best. I love, love, love to bake and I usually substitute “healthier” ingredients like whole wheat or spelt flour, and unrefined sugars. I think these things foods are fine once in awhile (assuming you do not have any sensitivities to them) but when they are consumed on a daily basis it can reek havoc on your body.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism almost a year ago but even before the diagnosis I could tell that something was very wrong. I felt horrible all the time, I was eating great (or so I thought)…. green smoothies, juicing, tons of veggies, it seemed like no matter what I ate I still felt bad. Exercise has always been a part of my life, but yet it seemed like I was gaining weight for no reason at all. I had a feeling that my hormones may be out of whack. Come to find out the very foods that I was eating to be “healthy” may have exacerbated the issues. I was devastated learning this, apparently all those yummy raw veggies I was eating was a no no, and even if I cooked them I shouldn’t have them very often, but over the last year I have learned more of what to eat with hypo and what to stay away from.

This brings me back to Whole30, I love how it completely eliminates all those inflammatory foods. Back on February 17th I started Whole30. I love a good challenge and I realized from the beginning that this was not going to be a piece of cake, (ha ha) but I knew I could do it. So far I am feeling great, one of the hardest parts was giving up my coffee creamer and drinking my beloved coffee black…but honestly even that has not been so bad. Like anything else in life you adjust and after awhile it’s normal! There have been several nights when I am sitting down to watch a little tv that I really want something sweet and I have had to fight the urge to raid the kitchen, but thankfully that has mostly passed.

I haven’t really decided what I am going to do after the 30 days. I am thinking I may add back one thing at a time and see how my body responds, really pay attention to the changes and how it makes me feel. I will be updating you all along the way and also posting some of my favorite recipes that has made this not only possible but delicious as well!

Have you tried Whole30? What are your thoughts?

Salad Bingo – A Fun Way to Eat Healthy

salad

Parents always tell their children not to play with their food, and with good reason. But could a bingo game help put a bit more fun into eating healthy?

Science shows that kids are hardwired to love sweets, and to hate anything sour or bitter, so vegetables, with their bitter or otherwise bland taste, are often pushed to the sides of a plate or ignored altogether. The struggle to get kids to eat more greens is universal – something all parents struggle with for years at a time.

But everyone knows that you outgrow that sweet tooth after a while, and vegetables start to become more appealing as you gain a better understanding of nutrition and health. Still, eating the same kind of salads and vegetables can be dull and boring. Luckily, though, a game of bingo can help solve all your problems.

Bingo has always been a popular pastime, and you may have found yourself playing a game or two online, what with its recent resurgence. The BBC reports that in 2004, there were as little as 25 online bingo halls, and by 2012 there were over 350, so its popularity is undeniable. What makes the game so appealing, however, is its versatility, as even supermarket chain Iceland Foods has been able to release its own version of the game on bingoiceland.com. It’s also been used for healthy causes, as the UK’s Food Standards Agency uses a game called Eatwell Bingo to promote better eating choices to the public.

You can use bingo to add a bit of variety to your lunches and healthy snacks too. Simple go online to find a bingo card creator, and make a list of five of the following: Vegetable 1, Vegetable 2, Vegetable 3, Protein, and Dressing. You can substitute one of the columns for Vegetables for Fruits if you want.

Create the bingo card with one column for each category, or use the bingo card creator to generate multiple cards with the same items. Number each of the items in each column 1-5, and when you’re ready to play, roll a die. The number you roll corresponds to which item you’re using in your salad, and if you happen to roll a 6, then you’re free to pick whichever item you want to use.

Let’s Chat

What are some creative things you have done with your kids to help introduce them to new foods?

Healthier Gluten Free Fast Food Options

Usually when I know that I will be stuck in the car traveling during lunch or dinner time I will pack myself a healthy lunch or snacks to make it through until we get to our destination.  There are times when I don’t plan ahead or just run out of time and I am kind of stuck eating something Fast Foodish.  Depending on where you are traveling you may have some good options or not so good options.  I have compiled a short list of a few of the “better” Gluten Free Fast Food Options.  All of these are under 500 calories.

Gluten Free Fast Food

 

*Always be sure to mention at the counter that you are Gluten Free

Let’s Chat:

What snacks do you like to pack when you are traveling? Some of my favorites are bananas, luna fiber bars, guac with carrots and bell pepper strips for dipping.

If you have to eat fast food what do you eat? I will usually try to find a salad that looks good, although sometimes I do indulge and get some fries! 🙂

It’s Monday!

I hope everyone is having a great Monday!  Here it is the 1st day of Kindergarten for my oldest! She is so excited!

photo (29)

 

I can’t wait to hear how the first day went!

I read this over at Mind Body Green…it is hilarious but also very true! Enjoy and have a laugh!

Here are 20 signs (quite possibly from the Universe!) that you, too, are way into wellness. 
1. You could hypothetically eat all your beauty products. 
Your kitchen and bathroom contain all the same ingredients. In fact, if it weren’t for the shower, you couldn’t tell them apart.
2. You don’t set goals, only intentions.
And then you manifest them.
3. You forget, in casual conversation, that not everyone knows what a Vitamix is.
It’s soooo much more than “an expensive blender,” but you haven’t found a succinct way to say that convincingly.
4. There are no plastic containers in your kitchen—only mason jars.
If we can all agree on one thing, it’s that BPA is the worst. Besides, how else would you transport your organic juice?
5. You know at least one person who goes by his spiritual name.
You can’t pronounce it, and he’ll always be Dave to you.
6. You know acai is a 3-syllable word.
 
Much like OM (A-U-M).
7. You’ve taken a side in the juicing-versus-blending debate.
Right now you’re Team Smoothie, mostly because you love your Vitamix.
8. You have a researched, reasoned opinion on why you hate agave. 
It’s evolved over time. You forget why, exactly, you’re currently using honey. But really, sugar addiction by any name—fructose, glucose, whatever—hardly smells sweet. You try to pass.
9. You regularly sign professional emails with “Gratitude” or “Blessings.”
 
And so does everyone in your world. “Best” gives you shivers.
10. You’ve had an intuitive massage.
The only disturbing moment was hearing about your past life as a Civil War wife. Who knew? And while we’re on the topic, it’s called bodywork.
11. You can’t look at a croissant without seeing inflammation. 
Which is too bad, because you used to really enjoy gluten.
12. You have a favorite MC Yogi song.
It’s the one about Gandhi.
13. You own nutritional yeast AND you know what to do with it.
Popcorn and avocado toast are naked without it.
14. Frankly, you’re a little stressed out by corn. 
It’s the next gluten …. But…. It’s a gluten-free grain. (AAAAAAAAH!)
15. Before you order in a restaurant, you ask yourself, What would Dr. Frank Lipman say?
And you know the answer: when in doubt, just eat the kale!
16. You’ve had at least one episode in which you walked into a grocery store and had no idea what to buy, because all you saw was a death trap of processed food, pesticides, hormones, sugar, and GMOs.
Gratitude for almond butter.
17. You’ve made peace with the fact that you smell like coconut oil.
What else would you use to cook, moisturize, remove makeup, floss, and fuel your car?
 
18. You know that six hours of sleep is a FAIL.
That’s why you have a sleep routine, followed with a glass of warm water and lemon in the morning.
19. Off the top of your head, you can name at least six uses for apple cider vinegar. 
You call it “ACV.” And you can’t remember much about your toxic life before it.
20. The question you hate most is when someone asks how much you paid for your Vitamix. 
It’s just worth it, OK?
Love, Blessings & Gratitude!